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Episode Description
In this powerful episode of America’s Founding Series, Professor Nick Giordano brings to life the extraordinary and often-overlooked stories of Jordan Freeman and Lambert Latham, two Black patriots who fought and died at the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781. As British forces stormed Fort Griswold, Freeman and Latham stood their ground in defense of a nation still grappling with its founding ideals. Through gripping storytelling, Giordano explores their heroism, sacrifice, and the brutal betrayal that followed the surrender. Their legacy challenges modern narratives and reminds us that America’s founding was not just shaped by generals and statesmen, but by ordinary men who believed liberty was worth dying for.
Episode Highlights:
- Jordan Freeman’s heroic defense and the killing of British Major Montgomery with a spear
- Lambert Latham’s defiant stand and symbolic act of raising the American flag amid massacre
- The brutal betrayal at Fort Griswold and the forgotten legacy of patriots in the American Revolution
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Forgotten Patriots: Jordan Freeman & Lambert Latham’s Final Stand at Fort Griswold
00:52 What Makes Men Risk Everything for an Idea?
00:03 The Courage of Ordinary Men
01:23 The Battle of Groton Heights
03:44 Profiles of Jordan Freeman and Lambert Latham
06:07 The Battle Unfolds
07:29 Aftermath of the Battle
10:31 Legacy of Jordan Freeman and Lambert Latham
Most Americans have heard of Lexington and Concord. Many know the names Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin. But far too few know the names Jordan Freeman and Lambert Latham, two patriots who gave their lives in defense of American liberty at the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781.
This week’s episode of America’s Founding Series focuses on their incredible and often forgotten story. At a time when the ideals of freedom and equality were more theory than practice, these two Black patriots chose to risk everything for a cause greater than themselves.
The scene was Fort Griswold, a small outpost on the Connecticut coast. As British forces under the command of the infamous Benedict Arnold raided New London, over 800 troops turned their attention to the fort. Inside, roughly 160 local militiamen prepared to make a stand. Among them stood Jordan Freeman and Lambert Latham.
Jordan Freeman was once enslaved, but had gained his freedom and become the personal aide and bodyguard to Colonel William Ledyard. During the British assault, Major William Montgomery scaled the walls of the fort. Freeman met him at the top and, in one swift motion, drove a pike through his chest, killing him instantly. It was a moment of triumph, but one that sparked British rage.
After the British breached the fort, Colonel Ledyard surrendered. He handed his sword to Major Bromfield as a sign of honor. Instead of accepting it, Bromfield used the sword to stab Ledyard to death. What followed was not war, but massacre. Over 80 American soldiers were killed after surrendering.
Amid the chaos, Lambert Latham refused to back down. According to legend, when the American flag fell, Latham lifted it again. Surrounded and outnumbered, he was stabbed repeatedly and killed for refusing to surrender. His defiance embodied the spirit of a nation not yet born but already being shaped by sacrifice.
Jordan Freeman and Lambert Latham did not fight for recognition or praise. They fought because they believed in the promise of America. They saw something worth fighting for, even when that promise had not yet been fulfilled for men like them. Their courage forces us to reflect on the complex realities of the Revolution and reminds us that liberty was never granted easily. It was earned through blood, struggle, and the commitment of people who believed in a better future.
If you are ever in Groton, Connecticut, visit Fort Griswold. There, you’ll find monuments to the fallen and to the memory of those who refused to be forgotten. Among the names are two men whose bravery helped shape our nation’s foundation—Jordan Freeman and Lambert Latham.
Their blood helped birth a nation. And it is our responsibility to ensure their story lives on.
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